Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
After a construction site injury, you may be facing medical bills and missed paychecks. Our construction accident lawyers in New Rochelle can help you figure out the next steps.
Our legal team at Shulman & Hill has represented injured workers across New York since 2013, with more than 200 years of combined experience. Construction injuries often involve overlapping legal claims, multiple insurance carriers, and several potentially responsible parties, and our role is to identify every available avenue for recovery under the law.
If you were injured on a construction site, contact our New Rochelle workers’ compensation lawyers for a FREE case review.
Why Hire Our New Rochelle Construction Accident Lawyers
Construction accident claims are rarely limited to a single insurance claim. In many cases, there are multiple contractors on site, separate subcontracting agreements, site safety obligations, and insurance policies that affect how liability is assigned.
Workers’ compensation may provide immediate wage and medical benefits, but it often does not tell the full legal story. If your injury involved unsafe equipment, inadequate fall protection, dangerous site conditions, or another contractor’s negligence, you may have separate claims under New York Labor Law or traditional negligence principles.
Our New Rochelle personal injury lawyers represent laborers across New York. From the beginning of a case, we review how the accident happened, who controlled the work, and which legal duties applied at the site.
Types Of Construction Accidents We Handle
Construction sites involve constant movement, elevated work, heavy equipment, and changing site conditions. Those conditions create risks that can lead to serious injury.
We regularly handle claims involving the following:
- Falls from ladders, scaffolds, and elevated platforms
- Falling tools, materials, or debris
- Crane and hoist failures
- Electrical injuries and arc flash incidents
- Trench collapses and excavation accidents
- Forklift and heavy machinery incidents
- Roadway and highway construction accidents
- Structural collapses and unstable work surfaces
Each accident requires a close review of the physical conditions at the site, the safety protections in place, and the responsibilities assigned under the contract structure.
Common Injuries After a Construction Site Accident
Construction injuries often involve significant medical treatment and extended time away from work. Common injuries include:
Orthopedic and Structural Injuries
Fractures, torn ligaments, dislocations, and spinal injuries are common in falls, struck-by incidents, and equipment failures.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head injuries may occur from falls, falling objects, or direct impact with machinery or structural materials.
Burn and Electrical Injuries
Electrical accidents can result in severe burns, nerve damage, or internal trauma that is not immediately visible.
Crush Injuries
Machinery accidents, collapses, and equipment malfunctions can cause crushing trauma with long-term physical consequences.
Our New Rochelle construction accident attorneys also represent workers with occupational injuries that develop over time, including hearing loss, repetitive-use conditions, and respiratory illness caused by prolonged exposure to dust or chemical substances.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits After a Construction Accident
For most injured construction workers, workers’ compensation is the first source of benefits after an injury. Under New York law, workers’ compensation may provide:
- Medical treatment related to your injury.
- Partial wage replacement during disability.
- Reimbursement for prescriptions and treatment-related travel.
- Permanent disability awards.
- Schedule Loss of Use awards for qualifying injuries.
These benefits are available regardless of fault, but they are governed by strict reporting and filing requirements. You generally must notify your employer within 30 days of the accident and file your formal claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board within two years.
Third-Party Claims
Workers’ compensation does not provide compensation for pain and suffering or full lost earnings. That is why identifying third-party liability is often an important part of a construction injury case.
A third-party claim may exist against the following:
- A general contractor
- A subcontractor
- A property owner
- An equipment manufacturer
- A delivery company
- A negligent driver near the job site
These claims can provide broader financial recovery than workers’ compensation alone.
To identify those claims, we review site contracts, control of the work area, safety responsibilities, and accident evidence, including photographs, witness accounts, and incident records.
When both claims are active, we coordinate them carefully, including addressing any workers’ compensation lien issues tied to a personal injury recovery.
New York Labor Laws That Protect Construction Workers
New York has some of the strongest worker-protection statutes in the country for construction accidents.
Labor Law § 240(1)
Often referred to as the Scaffold Law, Labor Law § 240 protects workers exposed to elevation-related hazards, including falls from ladders, scaffolds, and elevated work platforms, as well as injuries caused by falling materials.
This statute can impose strict liability on owners and contractors when required safety devices were absent or inadequate.
Labor Law § 241(6)
Labor Law § 241(6) allows injured workers to pursue claims based on violations of specific Industrial Code regulations.
These cases often involve:
- Missing guardrails
- Unsafe debris conditions
- Improper trench protection
- Unsafe demolition practices
- Defective protective equipment
Labor Law § 200
Labor Law § 200 addresses broader workplace safety obligations and often applies where unsafe site conditions or negligent supervision contributed to an injury.
These statutes often work together, depending on how the accident occurred and who controlled the work.
What to Do After a Construction Accident
The steps taken immediately after a construction injury can affect both your medical care and your legal claims.
You should:
- Report the injury to your employer or foreperson in writing.
- Seek immediate medical treatment.
- Tell medical providers the injury happened at work.
- Photograph the accident scene and equipment involved.
- Identify witnesses and contractors present.
- Keep copies of incident reports and safety documentation.
- Preserve wage records and union benefit information.
Construction sites change quickly. Equipment is moved, hazards are corrected, and witnesses become harder to locate. Early documentation can help preserve the facts surrounding the accident.
Speak With a New Rochelle Construction Accident Attorney
Construction injuries can involve workers’ compensation, labor law claims, third-party negligence lawsuits, or all three at once. Understanding which claims apply requires a careful review of the site conditions, the parties involved, and the legal duties owed under New York law.
At Shulman & Hill, we represent injured construction workers throughout New York with a focus on building strong cases from the ground up. If you were hurt on a construction site, contact us to discuss your accident with one of our construction accident attorneys in New Rochelle.
We are available 24/7 to take your call, and consultations are FREE.